Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Does Israel control America?

Is the man in the video below anti-semitic? I don't think so. He is merely telling the truth, it seems to me. It is an objective assessment, as he says. Israel is our friend and should be our friend in that troubled region, he says. But he says some things that might offend strong supporters of Israel. Is it wrong or anti-Jewish to suggest that Israel controls America?

Is it true that Israel receives $15 billion per year from the American taxpayer? I thought it was $3 billion per year in military aid, and the economic aid ended some time ago. I will have to look more into this.

my friend anonymous 2.. he is not but he is helping them alot by believing their media ..they dont need no body with them, they wont even except him. all wat they wat is somebody that would believe their lies and support them like mojo...

I think Israel is singled out because there are many Jews in the Congress and Senate, and AIPAC is very powerful. Israeli influence on American govt, partially via American Jews, has been pretty well documented. AIPAC is Israel's lobby in Washington.

In 2002 I wrote a letter to my representative in Congress, a Jewish Democrat named Brad Sherman. I wanted to complain about US disproportionate support for Israel. It was right after Israel attacked Jenin and Rachel Corrie's death. A few days later I received a letter from Congressman Sherman. It began with something like "Thank you for writing me about the war on terrorism."

So Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, which has been going since the 40s, is now a part of America's war on terrorism

I'm going to try to be more patient in this comment than I would normally be, because I've valued this blog for some years now.

I believe Traficant's comments do contain anti-Semitism. It's a repeat of the libel in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion forgery. For anyone unfamiliar with the history of that, Will Eisner's book, The Plot, in graphic novel format, is a very accessible introduction.

His case that Israel controls Congress hinges on the proposition that, in his words, "They have us involved in wars in which we have little or no interest." He's obviously talking primarily about Iraq. Do I need to lay out, on this blog of all places, America's strategic interest in Iraq?

Further, he uses the plural, "wars", so one has to at least suspect that he believes that Israel is responsible for America going to war in Afghanistan. The only way I see that he could hold that belief is if he subscribes to some anti-Semitic 9/11 truther conspiracy theory.

"And if they don't beat you at the poll, they'll put you in prison." Here he effectively accuses Israel of being responsible for his conviction on charges of bribery, tax evasion and racketeering. Check the reasoning there: according to Traficant, Israel was unable to get the verdict they wanted against John Demjanjuk in an Israeli court, but they were able to control the verdict against Traficant in a US court. How likely does that seem?

The Wikipedia page on Traficant has more on his conspiracy theories, and a letter he wrote saying that he knew facts about "Waco, Ruby Ridge, Pan Am Flight 103, Jimmy Hoffa and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy". So are we done with him now?

Saudi Arabia has a lot of influence in the US and if that man said anything about nefarious Arab control , you'd be the first one screaming racism at the top of your lungs. American jews have every right to influence their country just like any other american citizens. It doesn't mean that that Israel controls the US.

Paris - Press watchdog Reporters Without Borders urged media organisations on Friday to take care to protect female reporters from sexual assault while covering unrest in Egypt, following several serious attacks.

Thanks kellie for pointing out the charges against Traficant. I did not know about them, and you bring up very good points.

I received this video in a forward from my father. A lot of anti-Israel and antisemitic stuff is forwarded by the Arabs, and it is important to distinguish anti-Israel from anti-Semitic, and when discussing Israel. I learned some time ago to not be antisemitic, but I decided I could be anti-Israel or anti-Zionist. Then I decided the Israel is here to stay, and the Arabs can't do anything about it. Jews have lived in the Middle East forever. Jews are cool. And Muslims should welcome Jews to live in the Middle East. But when I criticize Israel for an injustice, I am not being anti-Semitic or anti-Jewish.

"Do I need to lay out, on this blog of all places, America's strategic interest in Iraq?"

America's strategic interest in Iraq was to remove a dictator and help Iraq become a democracy, right? A noble effort by America, but it should have been done in 1991, given the destruction of Iraq anyway.

"Saudi Arabia has a lot of influence in the US and if that man said anything about nefarious Arab control , you'd be the first one screaming racism at the top of your lungs."

Really? I have complained about Saudi influence on the US before. It was KSA, after all, that decided to keep Saddam in 1991. A couple of weeks ago I wondered if America is KSA's bitch. I asked if KSA was in charge in 1991.

So that man who said something about Saudi Arabian influence over America is I.

Agreed that America's strategic interests are best served by democracy in Iraq, and that it should have happened in 1991.

On Israel, no government should be off limits for criticism, though sometimes it's hard to be sure whether someone is attacking a government or a people.

The anti-Zionist position is tricky. I understand the point of view that Zionism is a form of nationalism based on race, and therefore is racist, but most nationalisms have an element of racism in them, including Palestinian nationalism where it excludes Jews. So I'm not a nationalist, but I don't think one can be anti-nationalist and also anti-Zionist unless one at the same time is anti Palestinian nationalism.

While I think being against both nationalisms is good in theory, it doesn't in itself point to a practical solution. I expect practicality demands two states, but wouldn't it be nice if one day that border, wherever it ends up, was of as little significance as the border between New York and New Jersey?

you are twisted. I am Arab but It would not be very neighborly like to be a war monger to Iran, especially when it hasnt done anything wrong. Should we just make war on it just because they are shia? If you have a problem with them being shia, how about in engaging in dawah/ debates with them?

Before I forget, I want to say that perhaps I chose the wrong way to phrase the question. Maybe I should have asked "does Israel have great influence in America"? I would say the answer is yes, and I would say there is nothing wrong with powerful Jews influencing the govt. Jews are smart people, and of course they will influence govt and culture.

"A couple of weeks ago I wondered if America is KSA's bitch. I asked if KSA was in charge in 1991."

"I summon my blue-eyed slaves anytime it pleases me. I command the Americans to send me their bravest soldiers to die for me. Anytime I clap my hands a stupid genie called the American ambassador appears to do my bidding. When the Americans die in my service their bodies are frozen in metal boxes by the US Embassy and American airplanes carry them away, as if they never existed. Truly, America is my favorite slave."

Here is a rather interesting article on US foreign aid to various countries. Its focus is on Egypt, for obvious reasons, but it does mention Israel's share being $3 billion. As for Israel controlling Congress, I think probably not any more so than other special interest groups.

Baghdad in 2000: "A woman known as Um Haydar was beheaded reportedly without charge or trial at the end of December 2000. She was 25 years' old and married with three children. Her husband was sought by the security authorities reportedly because of his involvement in Islamist armed activities against the state. He managed to flee the country. Men belonging to Feda'iyye Saddam came to the house in al-Karrada district and found his wife, children and his mother. Um Haydar was taken to the street and two men held her by the arms and a third pulled her head from behind and beheaded her in front of the residents. The beheading was also witnessed by members of the Ba'ath Party in the area. The security men took the body and the head in a plastic bag, and took away the children and the mother-in-law. The body of Um Haydar was later buried in al-Najaf. The fate of the children and the mother-in-law remains unknown."